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Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. announced that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has reached an agreement with rice industry stakeholders to set a suggested retail price (SRP) of P53 per kilo for local rice, striking a balance between farmers’ profits and consumers’ budgets. The SRP positions local rice slightly above imported 5-percent broken rice, […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) warned rice retailers, traders, and importers that violators of the government’s newly imposed price ceiling on imported rice could face jail time, million-peso fines, and even business closures under the Price Act. President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. ordered a 30-day price ceiling on imported 5 percent broken rice to curb what […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) unveiled the Philippine Sustainable Agriculture Transformation (PSAT) Program, backed by a $1-billion World Bank (WB) financing package, aiming to modernize the country’s agriculture, boost productivity, and strengthen food security. PSAT marks the Philippines’ first project under the World Bank’s Program-for-Results (PforR) model, which releases funds based on measurable outcomes rather […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) said it is prepared to immediately enforce President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s executive order imposing a price ceiling on imported rice, a move aimed at cushioning consumers from surging food costs amid inflationary pressures triggered by the conflict in the Middle East. Executive Order No. 118 imposes a P50-per-kilo cap on […]
Philippine agriculture sector, with improving rice output and steady gains in livestock and poultry expected to offset a weak first-quarter performance, Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said, even as emerging risks cloud the outlook later this year. “We are seeing encouraging signs on the ground, with rice production likely recovering in the second quarter […]
Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr. said that the Department of Agriculture (DA) has intensified efforts to prepare local farmers and consumers for a potentially strong El Niño event, which could shrink harvests and disrupt the food supply. While such losses cannot be entirely prevented, Tiu Laurel said they could be minimized through strategies like […]
The Department of Agriculture is spending P55 million to upgrade food safety monitoring capability, equipping laboratories of the Bureau of Plant Industry nationwide to detect nitrate and nitrite contaminants in plant-based foods. The move signals a more data-driven approach to regulating produce safety, as authorities begin building baseline evidence for future national standards. Agriculture Secretary […]
The Philippines and Japan are moving to recalibrate their agricultural partnership, with officials laying the groundwork for key agreements during a high-level meeting, ahead of the scheduled state visit of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to Japan later this month. Japanese Ambassador Kazuya Endo led officials in a courtesy call on Agriculture Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA) and its Regional Field Offices simultaneously launched the 2026 National Farmers and Fisherfolk’s Month (NFFM) marking the start of a nationwide celebration honoring farmers and fisherfolk. This year’s theme, “Pagbibigay-pugay para sa magsasaka’t mangingisda sa gitna ng hamon at krisis,” highlights the farmers and fisherfolk’s resilience and commitment to ensuring […]
The Department of Agriculture (DA), led by Secretary Francisco Tiu Laurel Jr., is stepping up market interventions as palay prices weaken in several major producing provinces, even as the main harvest season draws close to completion. During a consultative meeting with rice industry stakeholders, the DA noted that with about 77 percent of the national […]